AuthorTopic: Willy Kouassi (Read 2098 times)

This is a guy that needs his own thread. He seems to be getting better and better each game. He's really protecting the rim well, and even scoring inside and making free throws, something I didn't expect. Glad we got him as a late pick-up, perfect guy to back up Kingsley.

Yep...he is getting better. His defense down low is pretty good. He stays in good position down low and also is a really really good FT shooter although his first tonight was an airball....may have slipped out of his hands because his next one was nothing but net. I think he is something like 13 of 14 from the line and that is just off the top of my head. He needs to look for a mid range jumper more. He has a pretty good shot.

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Good call, because I was actually about to create a thread for him. He gave us some really good minutes in the first half. He's a really good fit for this team as he hustles and also is a quick, versatile defender. I see he's listed as a senior, is that accurate?

Good call, because I was actually about to create a thread for him. He gave us some really good minutes in the first half. He's a really good fit for this team as he hustles and also is a quick, versatile defender. I see he's listed as a senior, is that accurate?

Good call, because I was actually about to create a thread for him. He gave us some really good minutes in the first half. He's a really good fit for this team as he hustles and also is a quick, versatile defender. I see he's listed as a senior, is that accurate?

Yep, red-shirt senior. Played first year at Auburn, sat out the following year, next 2 years at Kennesaw State, now finishing up here at Arkansas.

He plays hard and is aggressive on the boards!! Love his shot blocking ability... He knows his role !!!!! Much better reaction than a healthy TT. Not that I wish anyone to get hurt, but we may have never known about him if Trey wouldn't have tweaked the ankle

You have guys like Tray and Keaton who just haven't seen the minutes. Kouassi has played plenty of Basketball, and it shows.

It's always hard when you get those big awkward guys who aren't ready to play, but Willy has it and he has a chance to get himself an overseas contract if he can help the Hogs have a surprising season.

I was thinking about this guy today. Am I the only one pleasantly surprised by his offensive game around the basket? Looking at his stats coming in, I figured garbage offensive player getting points on stick backs. Watching him operate out of the post he seems to have very smooth offensive moves around the basket and very adept at getting his shot off.

He will never be a guy who is going to be able to back a guy down with the dribble then make a move, but if you get it to him once he gets solid post position he has very good offensive moves. Maybe it's the staff that has worked with him in establishing some offensive confidence and post moves, because if he already had those moves I am simply shocked he wasn't a better scorer at Kenneshaw State.

Started to post something about him during Ga. Tech game. The guy is not your typical project we seem to have become a magnet for over the years. Dude has skills.

In general, we've done pretty well with JUCOs, especially JUCO bigs-- guys like Delvon Johnson turned into a real player for us, Coty Clarke was the heart of his teams at Arkansas, and Kouassi seems in that vein.

In general, we've done pretty well with JUCOs, especially JUCO bigs-- guys like Delvon Johnson turned into a real player for us, Coty Clarke was the heart of his teams at Arkansas, and Kouassi seems in that vein.

Wasn't really referring to JUCOs. Nolan and Anderson both seem to put more faith in athleticism at times than basketball skills.

Wasn't really referring to JUCOs. Nolan and Anderson both seem to put more faith in athleticism at times than basketball skills.

Kouassi isn't a JUCO. He's a senior transfer from Kennesaw State.

Transfer would be a better context, I suppose- the base point remains, though, that importing big man 'projects' has gone really well for the Razorbacks-- much better than transfer bigs for almost all other programs. I'm struggling to think of another program that has done as well over the last 5-10 years with transferred bigs.

What kind of skills is Kouassi bringing to the table? I see good FG and FT percentages.

That and he's been a pretty good spark off the bench. Those runs that allowed us to make Evansville quit for long stretches were sparked by his defense (among others). He had a monster block the other night.